Are dog treadmills also suitable for puppies?
A topic one of our Instagram followers (@dogmills.eu) wanted to know more about was the use of a dog treadmill by a puppy. We at Dogmills thought that we could dedicate a blog to this. So here it is. In this blog we will discuss when it is sensible to train a puppy on a dog treadmill, what the recommended amount of training is for a puppy and what the differences are between using a Dogmill for a puppy and an older dog. Have fun reading!
FROM WHEN IS IT SAFE FOR A PUPPY TO USE A DOG TREADMILL?
Dogmills are certainly also suitable for puppies. All our Dogmills can be used from a weight of 5 kg. A puppy should therefore weigh at least 5 kg to get the dog treadmill moving (easily). In addition, it is important that your puppy is rested and healthy. It is advisable to get your puppy used to the dog treadmill in a calm manner. Do this by training for a maximum of 5 minutes at a time in the beginning. It is also advisable to exercise on the dog treadmill when it is not too warm. Introduce the Dogmill as a fun and playful activity. As the owner, you can slowly push the belt forward to get the pup used to the mechanism of the Dogmill.
AMOUNT OF TRAINING A PUP ON A DOGMILL
Building up training time and speed on a dog treadmill is important for a puppy to use responsibly. This is because a puppy grows very quickly and constantly needs to get used to the way his or her own body works. Therefore, never leave your puppy alone in the beginning and try to read him or her. Make the puppy stop and not walk on when there are peculiarities. Finally, it is wise to keep an eye on the ambient temperature. Remember especially in warm weather: short training sessions and preferably only in the morning.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN USING A DOGMILL FOR A PUPPY AND AN OLDER DOG
The differences between using a Dogmill for a puppy and an older dog are in the length of training and the speed. For older dogs a longer training is (generally) acceptable. If the dog suffers from overweight, injuries or old age, the dog should slowly build up or strengthen his muscles and condition in order to prevent overloading. Shorter training sessions are also recommended for puppies. This will ensure that your pup gets used to the operation of the dog treadmill more quickly. Our Dogmills offer the advantage that the speed can be independently determined by your pup (or dog) because the treadmills are non-electric. This makes it possible to gradually build up speed.
Conclusion
Our Dogmills are ideally suited to both small and/or young and large and/or older dogs. This means that puppies could also use a Dogmill. An important condition is that your puppy must weigh at least 5 kg. Getting the puppy used to the dog treadmill is also very important. Make sure that your puppy gradually builds up the length of the training and the speed. Start with a maximum of 5 minutes of walking on the treadmill each time. In addition, be alert to the ambient temperature. Do you have any questions after reading this blog? We are happy to help. Mail to info@dogmills.nl and we will contact you further.